SOLWAY & DUMFRIES AVIATION MUSEUMS

[viscount]

With a whole day to drive from North of Liverpool to Perth, dropped-in on two interesting aviation museums either side of the England-Scotland border. It has been a fair few years since I previously visited Carlisle, while Dumfries was my first visit there.

THE SOLWAY AVIATION MUSEUM, CARLISLE

A delightful, well-kept Museum on the perimeter to Carlisle Airport. Interesting displays on the history of aviation in Cumbria. Talking point was the imminent arrival of the Blackburn Beverley XB259 from Hull and the challenges that will be faced putting it back together for display. With a Vulcan on site, they do have a track-record of looking after particularly large exhibits. A notably clean, tidy, well-kept Museum and a fascinating place look around. Well worth diverting to on a weekend trip north, and a great alternative to using Southwaite or Gretna Green M6/A74M Services.

CARLISLE, SOLWAY AVIATION MUSEUM, Saturday, 1st June 2024, late morning.

			
WE188	    EE. Canberra T.4	RAF, camouflaged, no unit markings
WP314/573   P. Sea Prince T.1	Royal Navy
WS832/W	    G. Meteor NF.14	RAF, camouflaged, no unit markings
XA459/394   F. Gannet AS.4	Royal Navy
XJ823	    Avro Vulcan B.2	RAF, camouflaged, 27 Sqdn unit markings on fin
"XP748/M"   EE. Lightning F.53	(ZF583) RAF, silver, 56 Sqdn red/white chequered fin
(XS209)     H. Jet Provost T.4	RAF, red/white - undergoing repaint, decal detail yet to be re-applied
XV406/D	    F-4M Phantom FGR.2	RAF, camouflaged, 111 Sqdn marking
XX146/GT    SEPECAT Jaguar T.2	RAF, all grey, 56 Sqdn markings
E-425	    H. Hunter F.51	Danish Air Force (formerly marked as XG190)

Partial Airframes:

(G-ARPP)   HS.Trident 1c	BA, nose and forward fuselage
(XX477)	   HP. Jetstream T.1	RAF, nose and forward fuselage
   -	   V-S Scimitar	        CIM, cockpit slice
	   plus some minor components of Beverley XB259, the main aircraft sections are due shortly.	

Not noted on display.  Presumed in storage/workshop area (as per W&R 2024)	
	
G-ADRX	   HM.14 Flea
G-APLG	   Auster J/5L
G-BDTT	   Bede BD-5            (in terminal?)
G-BNNR	   Cessna 152
G-BRHL	   B-8M gyrocopter
G-BSEG	   Ken Brock KB-2
	   Scorpion             Hang glider
WG303	   DHC Chipmunk T.10    fuselage
WV198/72   WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.21
WZ515	   DH.115 Vampire T.11
"WZ792"	   Slingsby Grasshopper

From 'MikeP's' comments later it would appear that I somehow missed an indoor section of the Museum with most of the above displayed there.

EE Canberra T.4 WE188 present in cold war green/grey camouflage scheme



Gloster Meteor NF.14 WS832/W also in cold war camouflage colours, no unit insignia



"XP748/M" EE. Lightning F.53 in RAF air interceptor silver with 56 Sqdn red/white chequered fin and nose flash; in reality ex ZF583 a Royal Saudi Air Force machine - but much more striking in early RAF silver and full paint markings. This colour scheme only appeared on Lightning F.3s (corrected), this airframe being the equivalent of the Lightning F.6 with the larger belly tank.



XV406/D F-4M Phantom FGR.2 still looking potent in her RAF camouflage and 111 Sqdn markings



E-425 H. Hunter F.51 correctly painted in her Danish Air Force scheme. She was once presented as RAF XG190 at her former home, the Midland Aviation Museum at Coventry.



(XS209) H. Jet Provost T.4 very freshly painted in her RAF red/white training scheme, indeed still being 'touched up' - the decal detail yet to be re-applied. The tent permitting some weather protection during restoration.



XJ823 Avro Vulcan B.2, RAF, camouflaged, 27 Sqdn unit markings - kept on a hardstanding a little away from her cold-war contemporaries nearer to the Museum buildings.



XX146/GT SEPECAT Jaguar T.2, RAF, all grey scheme, 54 Sqdn markings



XA459/394 F. Gannet AS.4 of the Royal Navy



WP314/573 P. Sea Prince T.1 of the Royal Navy



A CIM cockpit 'slice' of a V-S Scimitar aircraft, kept under its own rain shelter.



(G-ARPP) HS.Trident 1c, BA, nose and forward fuselage

[viscount]

CARLISLE AIRFIELD- VISIBLE ON AIRFIELD, Saturday, 1st June 2024

					
(G-BBBI)  AA-5 Traveler	            presumed to be regn of aircraft in the grass	
G-CDRP	  Ikarus C42 FB80		
G-FIFT	  Ikarus C42 FB100		
G-JFPG	  Leonardo A.109SP Grand    in open hangar	
G-TAAC	  Cirrus SR.20	            in open hangar	
G-WAVA	  Robin HR.200/120B	    Carlisle Flight Training	
G-ZEBY	  PA-28 Cherokee 140	    outside, engineless	
	  Robinson R.22/44          Red, inside an open hangar

Did not visit the Carlisle Airport terminal area, although apparently there is an aircraft displayed in there. In addition there is a rather new, impressive, glass faced square building on the airport site.



Carlisle Flight Training's Robin Hr.200/120B G-WAVA about to depart on a training flight



Zebra striped Cherokee 140 G-ZEBY parked outside engineless



In long grass, so thick and tall it covers the position where presumably there is a registration applied. Very likely G-BBBI an AA-5 Traveler, unless anyone knows better? Clearly been there quite some time!



In a wide-open hangar G-TAAC Cirrus SR.20, G-JFPG Agusta AW.109SP, with a red Robinson R.22 or R.44 hiding behind it.

[viscount]

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY AVIATION MUSEUM

Well worth the few extra miles on the trip northwards. Another delightful Museum, this one set on an industrial park - my Garmin leading me close, but to the wrong section! With some 14 British Aviation Museums in a week, this was the only one with under-construction expansion of display facilities. Great to see investment of time and money in presenting more to the public and getting some aircraft indoors. Top marks Dumfries and Galloway. Although as a negative, a number of aircraft are showing signs of needing external restoration attention due to long-term exposure to the elements.

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY AVIATION MUSEUM, Saturday 1st June 2024, early afternoon.	
		
P7540/DU:W  Spitfire IIa Recreation	RAF - the Loch Doon Spitfire rebuild
(WA576)	    B.171 Sycamore 3    	Requires restoration work (ex G-ALSS)
WL375	    G. Meteor T.7+        	ex RAE, in yellow T-band cols
WT746/N	    H. Hunter F.4         	RAF, 111 Sqdn, Black Arrows scheme
XL497/041   F. Gannet AEW.3         	RN, 849 Sqdn, B Flt logo
XT236	    Bell 47G Sioux AH.1 	Army, a recent restoration project and exhibit
(XT486)	    WS-58 Wessex HU.5	        all green, no markings applied
ZF584	    EE. Lightning F.53	        RAF, 111 Sqdn fin and spine paintwork
FT-36	    Lockheed T-33A	        Belgian AF, "Miss Laura" (55-3047)
AF54-005/HA NA F-100D Super Sabre	USAF (really 54-2163)
318/8:NY    Dassault Mystère IVA	French Air Force
fv35075/40-16  SAAB J-35A Draken	Swedish Air Force
		
	    Partial aircraft:	
		
	    GAL Hotspur	RAF             WWII, forward fuselage/cockpit section
	    GA Hamilcar	RAF             WWII, central fuselage section
"241079"    WACO CG-4 Hadrian	        USAAF, substantial replica (BAPC.370)
            Avro Anson I                fuselage framework
            HP Halifax                  cockpit replica
WJ880	    EE Canberra T.4	        RAF, nose & cockpit
XT280/232   NA-39 Buccaneer S.2B	RN, nose & cockpit
XX483/562   SA Jetstream T.1	        RN, nose & cockpit
	    GD F-111E               	USAF 20 TFW, cockpit escape module
G-AWZJ      HS.121 Trident 3b           BA, nose and forward fuselage
(G-AYFA)    SAL Twin Pioneer            just nose & cockpit
	    BAe. Jetstream  41     	nose & cockpit.  New arrival?
	    BAe.748-2B          	Cockpit mock-up, sat on end.
		
	   Off-Bounds in storage, workshops or off-site, Museum also holds: (as per W&R 29, 2024) 	
		
G-AZIL	   SF.25B Falke	
G-RAYE	   PA Cherokee Six	
 CHQ	   Tandem Tutor	
WP860	   Chipmunk T.10	        RAF
XT148	   Bell 47G Sioux AH.1	        Army, frame - absorbed into XT236 restoration?
XW363/36   BAC Jet Provost T.5	        RAF

ZF584 EE Lightning F.53. Unlike the Solway example, this former Royal Saudi Air Force aircraft displays the serial awarded on return to the UK, but is painted in an attractive scheme as worn by Lightnings in service with 111 Sqdn. Not sure if it was worn by their Lightning F.3s. No doubt Gerry will pop-up with an answer shortly (which he did and caption now amended).



WL375 a Gloster Meteor T.7 restored into a typical '50s Training Command colours. However, anyone 'into' Meteors will quickly notice all is not what it is painted as! This aircraft served all its life with the RAE as a test aircraft. During that time it acquired the 'squared' tail of the Meteor F.8 and the 'flat sided' nose cone of an FR.9 or PR.10. It's last service colours were the attractive RAE 'Raspberry Ripple' scheme, more attractive and a bigger talking point than the basic yellow T-band scheme it is now in.



Hawker Hunter F.4 WT746/N, presented as an all black aircraft of the 111 Sqdn 'Black Arrows' aerobatic team.



XT486 Westland WS-58 Wessex HU.5 of the Royal Navy. Clearly towards the end of a complete repaint, this Wessex is currently without any national markings, registration, codes etc applied.



A Fairey Gannet AEW.3 painted in the colours of its main service operator, 849 Sqdn Royal Navy, with the tail badge of 'B' Flight.



Lockheed T-33A FT-36 "Little Miss Laura" still in its Belgian Air Force colours from when retired in 1979.



One of only 2 Saab J-35A Draken's in British Aviation's Museums (the other is Newark), this aircraft is fv35075 flown as aircraft 40 of unit F.16 of the Swedish Air Force.



Marked as AF54-005/HA a NA F-100D Super Sabre in USAF colours (although really 54-2163 and formerly with the French Air Force)



No.318 a Dassault Mystère IVA still marked with the code and tiger colours of its final French Air Force unit. The other side is much more weather worn.



Buccaneer nose and forward fuselage section of XT289/323 in an open shed barely higher than the exhibit being sheltered. The red and white cockpit section beside it was once the nose of Twin Pioneer G-AYFA.



Canberra T.4 nose from WJ880 used as a travelling exhibit.



Trident 3B, G-AWZJ nose and a fair length of fuselage.



Presumed BAe.748-2B factory produced mock-up.



During the previous week I had seen possibly more Sycamores in Museums than any other type, all of them inside. It would appear that this machine WA576, which for a short period in 1950 was G-ALSS, is about to enter a period of restoration inside new dry accommodation. Will likely be a big job.





This nose would appear to off a BAe Jetstream 41. Not being listed in W&R 29 (2024) I would assume it is a very recent arrival. What the sections of (presumably) wings are off is anyone guess. One of the views is from a Control Tower window.



L7540/DU:W V-S Spitfire IIa a recreation using substantial parts of the aircraft which crashed 25.10.41 low flying over Loch Doon.



Cheetah engine from an Avro Anson



Waco CG-4 Hadrian replica, showing both the size and construction.



241079 Waco CG-4 Hadrian replica.



Hotspur WWII glider nose section



Bell 47G Sioux AH.1 XT148 is a recently restored exhibit in one of the new units. The monkey hanging from the rotor head, has significance with an interesting tale connected this particular aircraft. You will have to go to Dumfries to be told the tale though!



Recently built accommodation already in use housing the Sycamore, Spitfire and exhibition relating to WWII glider operations. The nose sections outside being a Jetstream T1 XX483/562, markings when with 750 Sqdn, RN and the cockpit rescue pod from a GD F-111E of 20 TFW, Upper Heyford.



Further new exhibit accommodation under construction. Great to see indoor space being expanded. Pity one of the units is not larger to provide greater space to house, or act as workshops to restore, some of the existing outdoor exhibits, particularly the European and American 'Cinderella types' less frequently found in Britain's aviation museums.

[gerrymanning]

Hi Brian,

I hate to correct you but on your caption of Lightning "XP748" in 56 sqd marking you said that the colour scheme was only applied on their F1s. It was not introduced until they got their F3s in 1965. Also they never had F1s but were the first unit to get the F1A at the end of 1960. This was the first mark to feature inflight refuelling.

Best wishes,
Gerry

[Cityflyer]

Brian

The AA5 Traveler @ Carlisle is G-BBBI the trick is to Photograph it after they have cut the Grass, which does happen occasionally

The Jetstream @ Dumfries marked Jetstream Prestwick is G-GCJL Jetstream 41 C/N 41001 the first Jetstream 41

[mikep]

re the Carlisle Museum

all these you mention (except the Whirlwind) are on Public Display in the Indoor Part of the Museum.

"G-ADRX" HM.14 Flea
G-APLG Auster J/5L
G-BNNR Cessna 152
G-BRHL B-8M gyrocopter
G-BSEG Ken Brock KB-2
WG303 DHC Chipmunk T.10 fuselage
WV198/72 WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.21
WZ515 DH.115 Vampire T.11
"WZ792" Slingsby Grasshopper


G-BDTT Bede BD-5 is indeed in the terminal and can be clearly seen on a drive through.

MP